More flattering than this early artistic attempt is Governor Sharpe's description of Baltimore, two years later, as having
"the appearance of the most increasing town in the
Province," though "hardly as yet rivalling Annapolis in
number of Buildings or inhabitants: its situation as to
Pleasantness, Air and Prospect is inferior to Annapolis,
but if one considers it with respect to Trade, the extensive
country beyond it leaves us room for comparison:
were a few Gentlemen of fortune to settle there and encourage
the Trade, it might soon become a flourishing
place, but while few besides the Germans (who are in general
masters of small fortunes) build and inhabit there, I
apprehend it Cannot make any considerable Figure."
The requisite "gentlemen of fortune" were
not long lacking. One soon appeared in the
person of Dr. John Stevenson, who, in 1754,
came from Ireland, accompanied by his brother,
Dr. Henry Stevenson, a man also noteworthy
among the founders of Baltimore. Dr. John
Stevenson turned his attention to commerce,
and began the systematic development of Baltimore's
foreign trade. He contracted for
large quantities of wheat, which he shipped to
Scotland with such profitable results that general
attention was attracted to the development
of a more extended commerce.
